F A R 1^1 E R S ' REGISTER 



447 



experienced neighbors, whom ho could meet 

 all at once on a court dnj'. But iC ihe some- 

 what greater trouble of separaie answers being 

 I'urnislieii wns so great as to prevent compli- 

 ance, or if the importance ol' the object was not 

 appreciated, then it wi!l be as much in vain to ex- 

 pect any aid in this respect, from any quarler, or 

 m any easier mode. We can only say that with-, 

 out such aid from others, we can do nothing. But 

 if such good aid is furnished as well may be, at 

 the expense of but a few hours' attention from a 

 few farmers in eacli marling county, then we will 

 venture to promise lo digest from these a body of 

 information whicii, for its aiuhority as well as fi.r 

 its fiicts, shall be ol' very great value to agri- 

 cultural interests, and especially to those of the 

 great marl region of the United States. — Ed. 

 Far. Reg. 



CRANBERRIES. 



From the IMaine Farmer. 

 The common cranberry is a native of Maine, 

 growing spontaneously in many of our bogs and 

 lowlaiuls, and yel we presume that thousands of 

 bushels are annu.dly brought in from other states, 

 and purchased by us. 



We have found it growing near the coast, and 

 have seen ii also very abundant near the head 

 waters of the Aroostook river. 



There is no diiriculty in cultivating them in the 

 garden, if you have the conveniences for giving 

 them a situation similar to the one which is natu- 

 ral 10 them. In England the horticulturists have 

 succeedeii in raising them in their ganlens. Sir 

 Joseph Banks describes his mode of culiivating 

 them successfully. From a bed of 326 square leel 

 three and a half bushels were pioduced. 



It is necessary that they have a moist situation, 

 and peat earth from hogs to ijrow upon. 



Salisbury in the Ilnriiculiural Transactions gives 

 the following ducciiiais lor cuUivaling them in 

 dry beds. 



"The 'American cranberry,' saya he, (oxy- 

 cocriis macrocarpa,) may he cultivated veiy suc- 

 cessliillv in situations not positively wet, if only 

 planted in bog earth, which retains moisture longer 

 than any other soil ; lor a few [)lants even in pots 

 which had stood some time neglected under a 

 hedge, so tliat their branches were matted together, 

 produced a |)lentilul crop." 



In situations where water is to be Iiad freely, 

 Neill observes, " all that is necessary is to drive 

 in a i'aw stakes two or three leet within (he margin 

 of the water, and place of some old boards vviihin 

 them so as to prevent the soil ol' the cranberry 

 bed I'rom falling in'o the water ; then to lay a par- 

 cel of small stones or rubbish in the bottom and 

 put the peat earth or bog earth over it to the depth 

 of about tliree inches above and seven inches be- 

 low the surface ol" the water. 



In such a situalion the plants grow readily ; and 

 if the few be put in they entirely cover the bed in 

 a year or two by mean."? of their long runners 

 which take root at dilfereni points. 



From a ver}' small space a very large quantity 

 of cranberries can be gathered, and they prove a 

 remarkably rctiular crop, scarcely affected by the. 

 stale of the weather, and not subji-ct to the attacks 

 of insects." 



A writer in Loudon's Gardener's Magazine ob- 

 serves that I he cranberry will succeed when planted 

 as an edging to any pond, provided some bog 

 earth, be placed ibr its roots to run in ; or if a bed 

 of bog earth be sunk in any shady situation, so as 

 its surlace may be below the general level, Ibr the 

 sake of retaining water, the plant will thrive well, 

 and il' watered regularly in dry weather, produce 

 abundant crops. 



In addition to the common bog cranberry, we 

 have another one that grows on our highest moun- 

 tains evidently seeking the coldest and most ex- 

 posed situation that can be found. Tliis is some- 

 times called the Scotch cranberry, and sometimes 

 "Mountain cranberry." The botanical term is 

 f Vaccinium vitis idm.') The berry does not 

 ijrow so large as the other, but it is a very pleasant 

 tart. It may be found nestling among the moss 

 and alpine plants of the White Hills and many 

 other of the lofty peaks in Oxford County. This 

 can be easily cultivated by giving it a bed of peat 

 earth or moss in some cool shady situation. 



Besides these, we have another fruit which is 

 also called "cranberry," or more commonly 

 '•high cranberry." It is a species of vihurnun), 

 (viburnum nxycnccus,) and is a very ornamental 

 shrub and should be found in every gayden or door 

 yard. It is quite abundant in many parts of the 

 state, especially in Oxford County, and on the 

 Sandy river, Kennebec, Aroostook, &c. &c. It 

 grows about ten lieet high, and is easily propaga- 

 ted by the root or seed. We have also succeeded 

 well in propagating it by cuttings, though these 

 should be proiected during the winter, as the roots 

 do not acquire sutRcient strength to hold the plant 

 firmly into the sward, and there is danger of its 

 being thrown out by the Irost if there are not some 

 leaves or straw tlirown over them. 



This shrub bears clusters of red berries which 

 remain on the bushes nearly all winter. It is a 

 pleasant acid and makes fine preserves. The only 

 objection being the stone or kernel is rather large 

 in jnoportion lo the size of the berry. 



CLOVER IN CORX. 



From tlic Farmers' Caliiiiet. 



Sir — In a late conversation with a first-rate agri- 

 culturist, and a member of the state senate, I Ibund 

 that he is accustomed to sow a full crop of red clo- 

 ver in his corn, at the time of the last cleaning, 

 laying the land as level as possible for this pur- 

 pose ; and he assured me he had always succeed- 

 ed in obtaining heavy crops, without the least in- 

 jury to the corn, and which, in i's turn, shelters 

 the clover by its shade, and encouraijes a very 

 rapid growth. Will our friends try it liy way of 

 experiment the present season 1 It is believed 

 that it may be made introductory to a new course 

 of crops, which might relieve the country from 

 that terrible scourge, liliiiht, in all its dillerpnt va- 

 rieties, Hy, rust, smut, mildeu^, Sic, which is sup- 

 posed in a great measure attributable to the pre- 

 sent mode of cro|)pinii and manuring. D. II. 



Phi link IpJiin, June 21, 1S40. 



